Counselling

Frequently asked questions

What is counselling

Counselling provides a safe secure place, separate from your everyday life, where you can talk about issues or feelings that are causing you difficulty.
Eye to Eye offers a free confidential counselling service to young people in Rhondda Cynon Taff

What is a counsellor?

Lots of people call themselves counsellors, many people will use counselling skills in their workplace, and some would have completed short courses in counselling skills and techniques.
All Eye to Eye Counsellors are fully trained and have either gained or are working toward a Post Graduate qualification or equivalent. This means we have fully qualified and student counsellors working with us.

Eye to Eye is an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Youth Access, The Wales Council for Voluntary Organisations, Interlink and organisations in Rhondda Cynon Taff.

Our counsellors follow Eye to Eye procedures and are supervised by qualified counselling/supervision staff.

If you are in any doubt about counselling or counsellors, you can get information from the British Association For Counselling and Psychotherapy on 0870 443 5252 or look on line at www.bacp.co.uk

Will my counselling be free?

Yes, completely free. We will not ask you for any payment for your counselling sessions.

Will my Counselling be Confidential?

Counselling with Eye to Eye is based on confidentiality. We respect that there are times when you will need space and safety, so that you can find your own answers to your problems and work out what you want to do.

Our counsellors are very skilled at working with young people and will explain our confidentiality and safety rules to you.
We want to keep you safe; we do not have to tell anyone that you are having counselling and neither do you. Of course it is better if those people who can help you know what is happening to you, but this is YOUR DECISION.

Our counsellors will only break confidentiality if you are in immediate risk of harm or if someone else is at risk of harm. We will never break confidentiality without discussing it with you.

It is important for our counsellors to have supervision with qualified staff. They must do this if they wish to carry out counselling with us and with you. Supervision is designed to ensure that your counsellor always works in your best interest and does their very best for you. Counsellors have supervision regularly; they may talk about their work with you at these sessions.

Eye to Eye has internal supervisors; this means everything is kept confidential inside the organisation. If you want to know more about this you can ask your counsellor.

You have the right to know what is happening with your information.

How Do I Get an Appointment

Just ring 01443 204551

What happens when I attend Counselling at a Centre

We will send you an appointment leaflet containing all the information you need to see your counsellor.
It will have,
Your counsellors' name
Your appointment time and date
Your centre and directions
If you are unable to attend then we ask that you contact us as soon as possible on 01443 204551

Counselling sessions usually last up to fifty minutes. The counsellor will meet with you and talk through your concerns.

Can I bring a friend or someone with me

Yes, it can be quite frightening the first time you see your counsellor. You may want to bring someone along with you. This person can sit in on the first session if that would be more comfortable. After that, you will know your counsellor and it won't be so scary.

What paperwork do you complete

At your first full appointment the counsellor will complete a client form with you, this form will contain information such as, who knows you are having counselling and how to contact you. It will also have statistical data, which we need to use on occasion to secure funding you could not be identified from this information.

You can see this form and any other paperwork at any time. You can also ask for a copy of any information we hold on you. You will have this free of charge.

How many weeks will i see a Counsellor

Our counsellors will help you look at your problems at pace that suits you. They are also trained to help you become autonomous; this means they will help you, to not need them, so that you are able to cope on your own.

What issues do young people bring to Counselling?

Well, anything and everything! People talk about many different issues in counselling sessions. Typical examples include: difficult thoughts, feelings or behaviours (their own or other's); responses to recent or past events and experiences; relationship struggles; making decisions; academic or personal concerns.

Your concern may not fall into these categories but if it is causing you distress or difficulty, you are welcome to come and talk to a counsellor. Follow this link for (Some of the problems we can help with)

What will happen, if i don't get on with my Counsellor?

Don't feel bad about this, and don't stop counselling, we have lots of counsellors working at Eye to Eye and we will give you an appointment with a different counsellor.

Ring Alison or Liz on 01443 204551

How long will i need to see a Counsellor?

At Eye to Eye our counsellors see every person as an individual. Some people only need to see a counsellor for a short time, other people may need longer. Every six weeks your counsellor will talk to
you about your progress and you will both decide if you need to stay a little longer. You can stop counselling at any time, it's your choice you will always be able to contact Eye to Eye for a counselling appointment in the future.

What will happen if i don't turn up for an appointment.

If you cant make your appointment,
or
You don't want counselling anymore
or
You have missed an appointment, but want to come back for counselling

Then just ring us on 01443 204551.

If there is something i'm not happy or comfortable with.

How do i make a Complaint

If you are not happy about anything we do, then we want to know.. Your counsellor will have given you a complaints leaflet when you first started counselling, if you do not have one of these, then ring Alison Theaker Or Liz Owen on 01443 204551.

Please tell Alison or Liz if you are unhappy or uncomfortable about your counselling.

This is confidential and they will listen to and act on your concerns.